Electric regulation



J. L. CREVELING.

ELECTRIC REGULATION. APPLICATION'HLED APR.9, m1. RENEWED APR. 12, 1922.

1,435,3 0, I Patented NOV.- 14, 1922.

INVENTOR.

to such a system.

Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

JOHN L. Oanva'mno, or warm PLAINS, new YOBK'ASSIGHOR T0 GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, A CORPORATION or NEW- YORK.

ELECTRIC REGULATION.

Application filed April 9, 1917, Serial No. 160,717. Benewed April 12, 1922. Serial No. 551,884.

lated within narrow limits to perform predetermined functions.

As my invention is particularly applicable to systems wherein a dynamo operating as a generator is used to charge a storage battery and operate lamps or translating devices in conjunction therewith and-wherein the dynamo is subject to wide variations in speed, it will be described with particular reference In the drawing, Fig.. I is a diagrammatic representation of one type of such system embodying my invention;

Fig. II is a diagrammatic representation of portions of a system similar to that of Fig. I and indicates a modification which may be made in an application of my invention.

Fig. III is a diagrammatic representation of a modified embodiment of my invention containing features present both in Figs. I and II.

Referring particularly to Fig. I, 1 represents a dynamo or generator driven at variable or intermittent speed and which, in this instance, is indicated as a ,plainshunt-machine provided with a field exciting coil 2 which may be controlled in any suitable manner, and in this instance is shown as having in series therewith a suitable-type of regulating element 3, indicated as a carbon pile. And it will therefore be evident that the generator may be regulated by proper manipulation of the pile 3. The-pile 3 has one end resting against an abutting member 4 which may be adjustable, if desired; while the pressure upon the pile may be regulated by operation of the bell-crank lever composed of the short arm 5 and the long arm 6, pivotally supported as indicated at 7. 8 is an ad- 'the same. or some other non-magnetic material, pivotally attached to the lever 6 and surrounded.

justa'ble weight shown to indicate thepresence of some means for adjusting the pressure upon the pile 3, under certainconditrons, and, of course, may be replaced by a spring or other equivalent means. 9 is a dash-pot coo erating with the lever 6 to prevent too sud on movement being imparted to 10 is a rod, preferably of brass by a washer 11 acting-as a clutch member allowing the rod 10 to move freely through the opening therein when the washer 11 is in a horizontal position, and adapted when canted to engage the rod 10 so as to be capable of imparting motion thereto. The rod 10 is fitted loosely into the core of iron or other magnetic material 12, and serves asa guide for the upper portion of the said core, the lower portion of which may have any suitable type of guide to keep the same in sufliciently correct alinement, and in this instance is indicated as provided with a dash got arrangement 13 preventing too suden movement being imparted to the core 12, and also serving as a bottom guide therefor. The core 12 is provided with a stem of nonmagnetic material 14, so arranged that when the core 12 is raised the stem 14 will cant the member 11 into engagement with the rod 10 and cause further movement of the core 12 in an upward direction to move the-rod 10. 15 is a tube of brass or other non-magnetic material, the upper portion of which serves as a stop for the member 11, which member lies upon the end of said tube in a horizontal position so as to disengage the rod 10, unless canted out of this position by the member 14, as when the core 12 is raised. 16 -is a winding which when energized tends to raise the core 12. 17 is a solenoid which when energized tends to raise its core 18, shown in dotted lines, which is provided at its lower extremity with a suitable dash-pot arrangement 19, and at its upper extremity with a rod 20, preferably of non-magnetic material, adapted when raised tocome into contact with the lever 6 whereby it may affect the pressure upon the pile 3. The rod 20 may serve as a guide forone end of the core 18, while the dash-pot 19 may serve as a guide. for the dynamo 1 is connected as by lead 21 with one terminal ofthe'switch 22, the opposite terminal of which is connected as by wire 23 with one end of the solenoid or winding 17, the opposite end of which is connected as by lead 24 with the positive terminal of the battery 25 and lamps or translating devices 26. The translating devices and the battery have their negative terminals connected with the lead 27 which is carried to the negative brush of the dynamo 1.

Switch 22 is preferably one of the automatic variety adapted to close its circuit when the generator voltage is substantially equal to or slightly in excess of that of the battery and to open its circuit when the generator voltage is substantially equal to or very slightly below that of the battery, in such manner as to prevent back discharge. And as such switches are well known in the artand the particular type chosen forms no part of my present invention, ,the mere presence of such a switch is indicated, and details of construction are purposely omitted for the sake of clearness, it being understood that any suitable type of such switch may be used.

The solenoid 17 is of coarse wire and in series with a circuit whosecurrent it is desired to measure, and the operation of said coil may be adjusted as by means of the ad justable shunt 28. ,The coil 16 is a fine winding in shunt across a circuit whose voltage it is desired to measure, and in this instance is indicated as connected across the.

generator mains through an adjustable resistance 29 whereby its operation may be adjusted.

In Fig. II like numerals have been used to indicate like parts and the only modification intended to be brought out by the use of this figure is that the coil 17, in series with the generator in Fig. I, is suppressed, and the coil 30, in series with the battery circuit only, is used in its stead, the current insaid-coil 30 being adjustable as by means of shunt 31.

In Fig. III there are indicated elements of both Figs. I and II, the coil 17 being indicated'in series with the generator lead, the coil 30 in series with the battery. circuit, and the coil 16 in shunt across the generator.

An operation of my invention is substantialiy as follows:

If the generator be at rest or running at sl'ifliciently low speed, Switch 22 will be open and the lamps 26 may be supplied by the battery 25 in the usual manner. If the generator have its speed brought up until its voltage is slightly in excess of that of the battery, switch 22 will close and current will flow from the generator through lead 21, switch 22, wire 23, solenoid 17, wire 24, to the battery 25 and translating devices 26,

from which return is made through the lead 27 And it will be obvious that the port-ion of the current which is caused to traverse the coil 17 may be adjusted by proper manipulation of the shunt 28, which is so adjusted that if the generator current tend to exceed a predetermined limit, the coil 17 will raise the core 18 smoothly against the action of dash-pot 19, so as to bring the rod 20 into contact with the lever 6 and thus affect the pile 3 to control the current in the winding 2 in such manner as to automatically hold this predetermined current from being exceeded, in a manner now well known in the art. While the lever 6 is being manipulated to regulate the output of the generator, through the instrumentahty' of coil 17, the rod 10 passes freely through the opening in the clutch member 11 which does not in any way interferev with the proper operation of the lever 6. However,

if the voltage across the circuit measured by the coil 16, in this instance indicated as the generator voltage, tend to rise above a predetermined desirable limit, which may e adjusted by suitably adjusting the re-' sistan'ce 29, coil 16 will raise its core 12 smoothly against the action of dash-pot 13, and the rod 14 will immediately cantthe clutch 11 into engagement with the rod 10,

and further increase in voltage will be pre vented by raising the rod 10 and lever 6 so as to decrease the pressure upon the pile 3 to prevent the generator operating'at a voltgenerator may deliver its full output so long as it is driven at or above the necessary speed. And, when the battery voltage rises until it is necessary to impress thereupon its charged voltage in order that the generator may deliver its full output, then coil 16 will raise core 12 and cause member 11 to grip the member 10 and usurp the con trol of the generator as the voltage tends to rise. And as the voltage of the battery rises under this full charging current, the current thereto will then fall off and solenoid 17 will allowcore 18 to settle down into the position shown in the drawing, while the regulation is performed by coil 16. However, if at any time while thus operating this maximum voltage should tend to cause too great a current to be delivered,

' lever 6 to this point.

coil 17 will again bring the member 20 into contact with the lever 6 and assume the regulation of the generator.

It will be noted that while coil 17 is reg):- lating the generator and the voltage is low that necessary to cause coil 16 to come into action, the said coil 16 and its cooperating parts will in no way interfere with the proper operation of the current coil 17 and its cooperating parts. And also if at any time when the coil 17 hascaused the lever 6 to be raised, the voltage shall rise until coil 16 shall raise the core 12, the clutch 11 will immediately grip the rod 10 and take advantage of the mechanical work which has been done by the coil 17 in raising the And if the current fall off while the generator is thus regulated in responseto voltage, the coil 17 will allow the core 18 to assume its normal inoperative position without any material effect upon the pile 3. That is, the fluctuations in current in the coil 17, so long as the value of the current remain below the predetermined maximum quantity, will cause no effect upon the regulation carried out by the coil 16 and its cooperating parts, owing to the fact that there will then be no connection between the rod 20 and the lever 6. However, if at any time while operating under voltage regulation the lever 6 be raised, and then the current tend to rise beyond its predetermined maximum, coil 17 will cause the core 18 to be raised and bring the rod 20 into contact withthe lever 6 and assume the regulation of the generator. And it will be noted that the lever 6 may be moved upwardly to increase the resistance in the generator field without any interference from the clutch 11, as 10 is always free to move in an upward direction through this clutch. And if this usurping of the regulation by the current coil 17 cause a falling off in the voltage, coil 16 will allow the core 12 to settle into the position shown in the drawing, whereupon clutch 11 will disengage the rod 10 entirely and allow the same to move in either direction freely therethrough. However, at no time will clutch 11 allow the lever 6 to be lowered and decrease the resistance 3, if the voltage desired to be held upon the system would be exceeded by such regulation of the generator.

An operation of that modification indi-' cated in Fig. II is the' same as that outlined above with respect to Fig. I, with the exception that it is the battery charging current circulating in the coil 30 that will be held .from exceeding a predetermined limit, in-

erator output brought about by the coil 17, the charging current to the battery will also be limited through the instrumentality of the coil 30 and its cooperating parts; so that if at any time either the output or the battery charging current tend to exceed predetermined limits which may be respectively adjusted, the generator will be so regulated as to prevent such limit from being exceeded; while at all times the voltage will be held from exceeding a predetermined limit by the coil 16 and its cooperating parts.

From the foregoing it will be noted that myinvention produces a simple system of regulation wherein a dynamo may be so regulated that its current output and its voltage will be held from exceeding certain predetermined values within narrow limits,

responsive means will be instantly trans'- ferred to the advantage of the voltage responsive means when the same comes into action; and that the operation of the said voltage responsive means will not be affected by the lessening of the current output in response to the operation of the voltage affected mechanism. 7

'I do not wish in any way to limit myself to any of the exact details of construction or operation given above to illustrate an embodiment of my invention, for it will be obvious that wide departure may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. Means for regulating a generator comprehending a regulating device, voltage responsive means detached therefrom when inoperative and current responsive means detached therefrom, when inoperative com-- bined with means whereby the current responsive means affects the regulating device when operative, and clutching means whereby the voltage responsive means independently affects the regulating device and usurps the entire control of the regulating device when operative.

. Means for regulating a generator comprehending a regulating device, voltage responsive means detached therefrom when inoperative and current responsive means detached therefrom, when inoperative combined with means whereby the current responsive means affects the regulating device when operative and the voltage responsive means usurps the entire operation of the regulating device when operative comprehending a movable member and clutch mechanism adapted upon slight movement to engage the same.

3. Means for regulating a generator comprehending a regulating device, voltage responsive means detached therefrom when inoperative and current responsive means detached therefrom when inoperative coma bined with means whereby the current responsive means affects the regulating device when operative, and means whereby the voltage responsive means usurps the entire operation of the regulating device when operative comprehending a movable member and clutch mechanism adapted upon slight movement to engage the regulating device in any position in which the same may be placed by the current responsive bined with means whereby the current re-- 4 sponsive means affects the regulating device when operative, and means whereby the voltage responsive means usurps the entire operation of the regulating device when operative comprehending a movable member and clutch mechanism adapted upon slight movement to engage the regulating device in any position in which the same may be placed by the current responsive means and unaffected by movement in one direction of the current responsive means when. thus engaged.

5. The combination with a generator, a regulating element affecting the same, voltage responsive means and clutch mechanism whereby the same may operate the regulating element, of current responsive means normally producing no effect upon the regulating element while the same is being operated by said clutch and adapted to affect the same upon current changes above a predetermined value.

6. Means for regulating a generator independently in response to voltage and'current fluctuations comprehending voltage responsive means and clutch mechanism whereby slight movement caused by the voltage responsive means affects the generator, and normally ineffective means responsive to current fluctuations adapted to affect the generator and cause said clutch mechanism to be released upon rise in current above a predetermined value only.

7. The combination with a generator, regulating means therefor, and normally ineffective current and voltage responsive means, of means whereby the voltage responsive means upon movement instantly engages the regulating means and the current responsive means affects the regulating means in response to current fluctuations above a predetermined value only.

8. The combination with a generator, regulating means therefor, and normally ineffective current and voltage responsive means above a predetermined value only to lower the voltage of the generator below the operating standard of the voltage responsive means.

9. The combination with a generator and regulating means therefor, of operating means for the regulating means responsive to voltage fluctuations including means which clutches and holds the regulating ,5

means while performing a regulating function, and current responsive means which is able to affect the regulating means in one direction and no other while engaged by the voltage responsive means.

10. The combination with a generator and regulating means therefor, of voltage responsive clutch operating means affecting the regulating means upon slight changes in voltage above a predetermined limit, combined with a plurality of means responsive to current fluctuations in a plurality of circuits supplied by the generator to prevent the current in said circuits from exceeding predetermined values therein respectively.

11. The combinationwith a generator, of regulating means therefor, voltage responsive means and clutch mechanism whereby the same affects the regulating means, a plurality of current responsive means affected by current in a plurality of circuits supplied by the generator, and means whereby said current responsive means may each independently affect the regulating means to lower the voltage of the generator independently of the voltage responsive means, said voltage responsive means being capable of lowering the voltage independently of all said current responsive means.

12. The combination with a generator, of regulatingmeans therefor, voltage responsive means and clutch mechanism whereby the same affects the regulating means, a plurality of current responsive means affected by current in a plurality of circuits supplied by the generator, and means whereby said current responsive means may each independently affect the regulating means, to lower the voltage of the generator independently of the voltage responsive means, said current responsive means all allowing the voltage responsive means to assume the entire operation of the regulating mean".

13. The combination with a enerator and a regulating device therefor, of voltage responsive means and means whereby the same immediately engages the regulating means to move the same in one direction when the voltage reaches a predetermined value, cur- .rent responsive means adapted to move the regulating device in one direction irrespective of the operation of the voltage responsive means, and incapableof afiecting the regulating means in the opposite direction when the voltage regulating means is operative.

14. The combination with a generator, a'

storage battery and translating devices supplied thereby, of regulating means controlling the operation of the generator, means for operating the same in res use to voltage fluctuations comprehending c utch mechanism adapted to en age the regulatin means in any position 0 its operation com ined with current responsive means affecting the regulating means in response to fluctuations 1n the generator output when above a predetermined value only, and current responsive means adapted to afiect the regulating means responsive means detached from the regulating means when inoperative, and clutching means whereby the voltage res nsive means affects the regulating means w en operative and performs the entire operation thereof.

JOHN L. CREVELING. 

